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HRMT 502: Human Resource Management Report a Broken Link

Managing and motivating people are critical tasks for management, particularly in the context of rapidly changing and competitive organizational environments.

This course focuses on the strategic approach to human resource management, integrating topics from organization behavior and organization theory. It takes a fresh look at topics such as motivation, leadership, culture, recruitment and selection, development, performance management, rewards, and organizational design.

This course is designed to help you realize the role of strategic HRM in organizations. In particular, you will get a good understanding of
 

  • the importance of organizational culture to HRM
  • how individuals are motivated
  • what constitutes effective and ineffective leadership
  • the utilization of teams to achieve organizational objectives
  • the strategic implications of HRM systems such as the human resource flow, performance management, and rewards management

Textbook

Lam, H. (2023). Essentials of strategic human resource management & organizational behaviour (4th ed.). Athabasca University.

Essentials of Strategic Human Resource Management & Organizational Behaviour was written by HRMT 502 Professor Emeritus Helen Lam, copyright © Athabasca University. This printable PDF version is provided exclusively to students enrolled in HRMT 502 so that they may download and read it on their screen or print a personal copy of the textbook if they desire. Do not share or distribute this work.

Required Readings

Lesson 1

There is no required reading in this lesson.

Lesson 2

Clark, R. E., & Saxberg, B. (2019) 4 reasons good employees lose their motivation. Harvard Business Review Digital Articles, 2–5.
Nohria, N., Groysberg, B., & Lee, L.-E. (2008). Employee motivation: A powerful new model. Harvard Business Review, 86(7–8).

Lesson 3

Nelson, B. (2021, December 9). Great leaders have these behaviors in common. CliftonStrengths, Gallup. https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/357983/great-leaders-behaviors-common.aspx
Pawliw, J. P. (2025). The secret to building a high-performing team. Harvard Business Review Digital Articles, 1-11.

Lesson 4

Reed, M. (2025). The legal framework. Labour Relations in Canada. TRU Open Press. https://lrincanada.pressbooks.tru.ca/chapter/the-legal-framework/

Note: Read the "Charter of Rights and Freedoms," " Labour Legislation," "Human Rights Legislation," and "Employment Standards Legislation" sections.
Westmaas, L. (2022). Conflict resolution, negotiations, and labour relations. Conflict Management. Fanshawe College Pressbooks.  https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/conflictmanagement/chapter/2-1-the-conflict-process/

Note: Read sections 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, and 2.5.

Lesson 5

There is no required reading in this lesson.

Lesson 6

There is no required reading in this lesson.

Lesson 7

Bourke, J., & Dillon, B. (2018). The diversity and inclusion revolution: Eight powerful truths.  Deloitte Review, 22.

Lesson 8

Anderson, D., Bjarnadóttir, M. V., & Gaddis Ross, D. (2022, January 27). Using people analytics to build an equitable workplace. Harvard Business Review Digital Articles, 1–8. 
Aykens, P., Lowmaster, K., McRae, E. R., & Shepp, J. (2026, February 2). 9 trends shaping work in 2026 and beyond. Harvard Business Review Digital Articles, 1–11. 
Elliott, B. (2026, March 25). An AI reckoning for HR: Transform or fade away. MIT Sloan Management Review. https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/an-ai-reckoning-for-hr-transform-or-fade-away/
Hendry, M. (2024, July 16). People analytics lay the groundwork for data-informed HR decisions. Canadian HR Reporter. https://www.hrreporter.com/focus-areas/people-analytics/people-analytics-lay-the-groundwork-for-data-informed-hr-decisions/387346

Supplementary Readings

Lesson 1

TEDx Talks. (2024, April 30). HR revolution: Mastering the shift from admin to strategic powerhouse | Gauri Das [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysmFdVMWc9A 

Lesson 2

Altman, E., Kiron, D., & Read, M.S. (2024, March 28). How AI changes your workforce. MIT Sloan Management Review. https://sloanreview.mit.edu/video/how-ai-changes-your-workforce/ 
Anicich, E. M., & Lindsley, D. (2024). Reimagining work as a product. Harvard Business Review, 102(6), 61–65. 
Buckingham, M., & Messymod. (2022). Designing work that people love. Harvard Business Review, 100(3), 66–75. 

Lesson 3

West, T. (2025, June). The surprisingly simple reason teams fail [Video]. TED. https://www.ted.com/talks/tessa_west_the_surprisingly_simple_reason_teams_fail 

Lesson 4

Valentine, K. (2025, May). What successful negotiators do differently [Video]. TED. https://www.ted.com/talks/kathryn_valentine_what_successful_negotiators_do_differently 

Lesson 5

Adam, A. (2023, January). How to retain Gen Z talent [Video]. TED. https://www.ted.com/talks/andrei_adam_how_to_retain_gen_z_talent 
Johnson, W. (2022). Manage your organization as a portfolio of learning curves. Harvard Business Review, 100(1), 102-111.
TEDx Talks. (2025, June 16). The future of hiring: From experience to potential | Georgina Fleming [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBisYiLv8eI 

Lesson 6

Gerdeman, D., (2019, January 28). Forget Cash. Here are better ways to motivate employees. Harvard Business School Working Knowledge. https://www.hbs.edu/recruiting/guides-and-stories/forget-cash-here-are-better-ways-to-motivate-employees 
Grant, A. (Host). (2022, May 10). Why it pays to raise pay [Video podcast episode]. In WorkLife with Adam Grant. TED Podcasts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM-gQ09fl0g 
Park, S., Kong, D. T., & Peng, J. (2024). Research: Pay-for-performance doesn’t have to stress workers out. Harvard Business Review Digital Articles, 1–7. 
TEDx Talks. (2024, June 13). The gender pay gap and how to address it | Dr. Kamin Samuel [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhzSqL-IYJE 

Lesson 7

Groysberg, B., Lee, J., Price, J., & Cheng, J. Y.-J. (2024). The leader’s guide to corporate culture. Harvard Business Review, 102, 10–24. 
Hutchison, Y. (2024, October). Where DEI falls short — and how to rethink it [Video]. TED. https://www.ted.com/talks/y_vonne_hutchinson_where_dei_falls_short_and_how_to_rethink_it 
TEDx Talks. (2024, December 20). The ultimate win-win: Why DEI can't DIE | Julia Lashay Israel [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F67Mdjphed0 
Yoshino, K., & Glasgow, D. (2026). The upside of opening up DEI programs to everyone. Harvard Business Review Digital Articles, 1–8. 

Lesson 8

Duncan, D. S (2026, February 3). How do workers develop good judgment in the AI era? Harvard Business Review Digital Articles, 1–10. 
Gallup. (2026). State of the global workplace: The human side of the AI revolution. https://www.gallup.com/workplace/349484/state-of-the-global-workplace.aspx 
Giermindl, L. M., Strich, F., Christ, O., Leicht-Deobald, U., & Redzepi, A. (2022). The dark sides of people analytics: Reviewing the perils for organisations and employees. European Journal of Information Systems, 31(3), 410–435. https://doi.org/10.1080/0960085X.2021.1927213